VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Six-time NBA all-star Steve Nash said Friday he will invest in the Vancouver Whitecaps' bid to buy a Major League Soccer franchise.

The Whitecaps are bidding to join the MLS in 2011.

The Phoenix Suns point guard, speaking from New York via telephone, told a news conference he will not be a majority owner, but will put a significant amount of money toward the project. Nash will join current owner Greg Kerfoot.

The last team two clubs to buy teams in MLS, Seattle — which will begin play next year, and Philadelphia, which will begin in 2010, paid $30 million each in expansion fees.

The Vancouver Whitecaps are currently a Canadian professional soccer team, part of the United Soccer League's first division, essentially the second division of American soccer.